Tear tape applying mechanism for a wrapping machine



June 28, 1960 c. P. ouELLET'rl-z TEAR TAPE APPLYING MECHANISM VFOR A WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1957 INVENTOR CLARENCE F. OUELLETTE ATTORNEY June 28, 1960 c. P, o uELLE-r'rE 2,942,528

TEAR TAPE APPLYING MEcHANIsM FOR A WRAPPING MACHINE Filed may s, 1957 4 Sheets--Sheet 3 FIGS INVENTOR CLARENCE R QUELLETTE ATTORNEY June 28, 1960 c. P. ouELLETTE v 2,942,528

TEAR TAPE APPLYING MEcHANIsM FOR A WRAPPING MACHINE Filed may e, 1957 INVENTOR 2 a 87 2' '9' lso l ATTORNEY United States Patent TEAR TAPE APPLYING rmCHANIsM WRAPPING e MACHINE Clarence P. Ouellette, Springfield,V

Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts l Filed May 6, 1957, ser. No. 657,286

17 claims. (c1. tvs-1) This invention relates to the wrapping and packaging of larticles and it is the general object of the invention tol provide a machine for applying a tear tape to the wrapping material to facilitate opening of the package to expose the contents thereof. Y

Wrapping machines of the type to which the invention more particularly relates ordinarily are provided with a roll of wrapping material such as cellophane and feed means to draw 'the wrapping m-aterial from the roll to the wrapping head of the machine. Some articles are of such a nature that it is desirable to enclose them in a wrapper which can be at least partly opened without damaging Ithe articles. To accomplish this general result it has already been proposed Ito provide the wrapper with a tear strip or tape, but the. mechanisms thus far developed for this purpose have either employed a liquid get hold of. f

It is an important object' of the present inventioiito provide a machine having two operating stations separate longitudinally of the sheet of wrapping-material and provide means at one station for cutting a tongue from the wrapper and having means at the other station for Mass., asslgnor to v as an electrical contact, is effective to ,ice

' 2 reciprocated transvserely of the wrapper sheet Vand when moving in one direction draws the strip or 'tape from its supply roll while the heater is spaced *from* the sheet and on the return stroke of the unit the heater is .pressed ythe clamp moves away from theY v against the tape yand pressure member to 'prevent the clamp from pulling the tape away from the gripping means'.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide simplified control means at the tongue-cutting and tapeapplying stations whereby a single control means, such operate the tonguecutting mechanism and also,'the tape cutter at the same time. A

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package wherein the tape is between the ends of the package and when removed exposes the topmost article through an opening extending across the package while retaining the articles in the ends of the package at each side of the opening. K

After the -application of several tear tapes to the l wrapper sheet the latter is ordinarily cut into individual adhesive or the tape or tear stripthasrbeen diflicultito applying the tape to the wrapper in alignment with the tongue.

It is a further object of the invention tov havefa crosswise cutter located at the first station so formed that it will cut a tongue the length of which is transverseof the wrapper, the tongue having a free end and having also a part which remains integral with lthe wrapper, and then apply the tear tapeto the wrapper transversely -thereof at the second station in ,such manner that theY tongue will expose part of theptaper so that the Vuser can readily grasp both the tongue and tear tape to-open the package. y It is a further object of the invention `tovfeedthe wrapper in step by step movements having a feed stroke followed by a rest period and perform the aforesaid tongue-cutting operation at'the lirst of said stations during one rest period, then feed the wrapper to locate the tongue at the second of said stations during the next rest period. i

It is a still further object of the invention to draw off the tear tape while the wrapper is being fed and then during the ensuing rest period progressively apply the tape to the Wrapper.

It is another object of the invention to lead the strip or tape over a pressure member having an arcuate surface around the axis of which the heating element moves and cause the latter when moving away from the wrapping sheet atter a tape applying operation to move thev arcuate surface to advancerthe previously cut end of the tape to a position where it may readily be gripped by the aforesaid gripper means on the next operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carriage unit including the pressure member and a tape vinvention and in which:

wrappers, known as panels, and it is a further object of the invention to provide such a panel Yhaving a free tongue between the sides and ends of the panel aligned with a part at least of the tear tape xed to the wrapper. VOther features of the invention will appear as the following description proceeds.V YIn order lthat the invention may be clearly understood reference is made tothe accompanying drawingsV which illustrate by way of example the embodimentsv of the Fig. 1 is a planview of part of a having the invention applied thereto;

f Fig. r2`is Aa side ,elevation looking'inn the direction of` arrow'Z,y Fig. 1;,

Fig. 3 is -an enlarged vertical section on line 3 3,

Fig. 2, showing the mechanism which cuts thetngue and slit; k

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is a detail of the tongue forming cutter'looking upwardly in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 3;

clamp for it and including also a heating element movable A lon line 8-8, Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 :is a Vdetailed View showing the actuator for re- Y arrow 10, Fig. 2; 1 y Y Fig. 6`is a detailed sidev elevation on an enlarged scale of 'the'ftape applying mechanism looking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig'. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan viewfof the' structure shownin Fig.-` 6; Fig. 8 is a detailed vertical section on an enlargedv scale ciprocating the tape applying unit; Fig. l0 is a side elevation looking Fig. 11 is a side elevation Ipartly in section of the'control means for the tape gripper, clamp zantl'heating. unit;

Fig. l2 is a perspective view showing a package which has been wrapped ina panel madeaccording toV the present invention looking from one corner thereof;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l2 but looking at` the opposite corner of the package;

Fig. 14 is la plan view of one panel cut ,from the wrap-V per sheet after the tape has been applied thereto;

`Figs.l5 to 19 inclusive are diagrammatic views show-- ing the tape applying unit in different positions;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing part of the cutter mechanism for'the tape;

f Fig. 2l is an enlarged vertical section on Fig. 6, showing details of the heating unit;

Fig. 22 shows the switch for operating the tongue cutter` and tape cutter mechanisms looking in fthe direction of arrow 22, Fig. 2, tand being on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 23 -shows a length of the wrapper sheet With-several 4tapes :attached thereto lat is cut into panels.

line 21-21,

wrapping machine in the direction, of

spaced zones before the Vsheet Referring more particularly to Figs. l andV 2, the machine has a fixed frame F and is provided with a w-rapper supply WS and a tape supply TS. The frame supports various chain connected sprockets shown more particularly in Fig. 2 and also a driving shaft 1 to whichiissef cured a crank z which makesl a rotation for each cycle of the machine. The crank is connected;- to, a vertically extending` rack bar 3 which byv means of; a one-Way clutch (not shown inf detail herein) turns a wrapper f eeda rol-l 4 intermittently, i.e., whenthe rack is rising. When the rack is descending the feed roll. is stationary. The Wrapper W is held down against the feed roll and foreach rotation of the crank Z therewill b el a feed stroke andthe corresponding period of` restf on the part of the wrapper W, each feed stroke and its rest period, comprising n cycle in the operation ofthe machine..

After the wrapper leaves the supply WS it extends; up wardlyI over a Smal-L guideroll 5then; downwardly under a second guidero11f6,A and then upwardly andover a guide roll- 7 which extends betweeniixed side bars 8f forming part of frame The wrapper; then extends to the right as viewed in Eig. 2 past a tongue-cutting station S1 and thence down to a tape applying station S2 andl then o ver a guide roll 9 and under an -adjust'ably mounted roll 10. The,l wrapper then extends forwardly over another guide roll 11. and thence to the, feed: roll 4. From the feed roll the wrapper is thenled forward-ly to wrapping mechanism. not; shown herein.

Supported on the; bars; 8 is' a photoelectric detector P E of known construction and operation which is actuated in known manner by light transmittingthrough a narrow gap 12in one edge-ofthe Wrapper. The, feed mechanism for the wrapper and the photoelect-ric device maybe. of usual construction and are shown herein in order to complete the illustration of the invention.

Tongucwuttng station The tongue-cutting station: generally' indicated at^SI is shown more particularly in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4. Referring more particularly toiFigs. 3 and. 4, the structure defining `this: first; station S1 includes. uprights 15: slidable on the bars 8 in a horizontal direction. The lower end of each upright is: formed. with a bearing 16 fora shaft 17A each end of which is providediwith. a gear.- 18: which meshes with a rack 19 fixed with respect tothe adjacent bar 8. A handwheel. 20 provides means by which. the shaft 1.7 and its gears can be turned toV nuove` the tongue-cutting mechanism along the bars 8 to adapt it for use per panels of differentlengths.

Connecting'.Y the tops of the uprightsv 15 is a bar 21 on which are mounted two cutter supports on bearingmem bers 22 and 23. The support 22 guides a vertically extending bar 24 having apin. 2S. thereon connectedto the lower end of a'- tension spring 26 the-upper end of which is held fixed to the support 22 -at 27. The lower end of. the vertically slidable bar 24 is'- provided withK theA tongue cutter which in the present instance is shownto be U-shapedv as viewed from the bottom, Fig.. 5, and is held xedly tothe bar 24 by a bolt or pivot 31` having a nut 32 by which the cutter can be clamped to the lower end of the bar at differently' adjusted angular positions around an axis which is parallel to thegenera-l direction of movef ment of the' wrapper. The lower orA cutting edge of the cutter 30 is provided with a numberof teeth 33` which. project downwardly and are the first parts of the cutter to penetrate the wrapper W'.

A second vertically slidablebar is guided for up and down movement in the bearing 23 and has secured tothe lower end thereof: a flatcutter blade 36, the cutting edge of which extends generally in the direction ofY movement of the wrapper. Cutters 30 and 36a1'e remote from and opposite each other and are movable in a direc'- tion transverse of the direction ofy movement of the wrapper.

Extending between and fixed with respectvtol the'V up' with. wrap Y wrapper or the tongue.

rightsv 15 is a wrapper support 3T the upperpart ofwhich is provided with, acompressiblg preferably @lastig mainrial 38 which may be rubber. The rubber is beneath the cutters 30 and 36 and undergoes some deformation by these cutters during the cutting operation.

An arm 40 fixed with respect to the cross bar 21 supports a solenoid 41 the core, 42: of which is connected to a dependingA link 43 having a pin 44 whichY passes through adjacent ends of levers -45 and 46j for cutters 30- and 36 respectively. Lever 45 is pivotedV at 47 to the bearing member 22 and has a forked endA 48: to embrace the pin 25. Lever,` 46ihas, at slot 44% havingI a sliding fit with a pin 50 held to the bearingmember4 23f4 The right-hand end of lever 46. is forked .at,5 1 to. embrace a pin 52 on the bar 35. An adjustable stop screw 53 limits the angular movement of levers 45` andi46sunden the action of spring 26.

A shaft 55 journaled for rotation in the frame F has secured, thereto a. switchcloser- 56. foran electric Switch 57'. 'Ehe latten is normally openybutwhen the closer 56 engages-the switch the; latter is closed and a circuit is completed thrQughthe-solcnoid 411by'thee1cctric; Wires 58 and 59. It is not believed necessaryto` show the complete ciltrlli for; the solenoidsA s ince the latter can readily `be: supplied by those skilled inthe aitand; would include some source, off powerl Such for instance as; atransformer not; shown. Bars 24 and 35j and, levers 4S and; 46 are under control; off solenoidf l41 and arel operatively connected theretos. the. solenoid when energized being effective tofmovecutters 3i! and. 35 toward the wrapper.

In, the, operation of theA tongue former and slitter the partswill; normally be in the: noncutting position shown inFi-g. 3, b utleach; time then/rapper has a period of restl ther; switch 5-7: will be, closed to4 energize the solenoid, whereupon upward; movement of the core 42 will depress the sliding bars 24 and 35 to cause their respective cutters to simultaneously` cut the-wrapper. This cuttingy operation could occur.V `at. that time, during the period of rest but as. willy be described hereinafter with respect tothe tape applying; mechanism',l the cutting is done near the end'` oli a. period off rest: so. t at a singleI control switch can be employed;

The showing of the cutter 30 in Fig. 3 enables it to culi a. tongue G off less' lengthv thanwould be the case if the nut 32 wereI loosened and the cutter turned slightly clockwise. Lf on the other hand a shorter tongue were desired a greater angular position. of. the cutter 3u could be attained' sothat less of its cutting edge would bc movedr `into the ruhberpads; As the cutter 30 de s'cent'lstlheadvancing points of' its teethA 33 will engage and penetrate the wrapper at a series of spaced points 4after which further downmotion of the cutter will cut the tongue without objectionable deformation of? the j y The length ofthe tongue is preferably transverse off thewrapper sothat its free end 602 at'- the left, Fig. 14, andi itsfend 61 integral with the wrapper at the right, Fig; 14,Y will-,bc aligned with the slit 62 which is'cut by' the blade 36 at thev sametime the tongue? is cut. Tongue G- will be formed crosswise of the direction of movement ofthe wrapper W and slit 612 willi be formed parallel to said direction of movement, the tongueand slit? being remote from each 'other and within the-edges of the wrapper W yandthe edges of the `individual wrappers when the latter are f 'rmed While' al single solenoid has been shown in Fig. 3 for operatingfboth of'I the cutters 30 and 36 the invention is not thus to. be limited since-ir"v it is desired the cutters canbeV made independent of each other and each have its own operating solenoid to be controlled from the switch 57.' lt will be understood that the tongue and slitV cutting: already described takes place at the first of the two stations already referred to, that is, at station S1. The cutters, theirmounting and the solenoid,l togethelL with tbe br- 37 and the rubber pad' 38, all move as a* unit whenever the shaft 17 is turned so that thel naar position of the station S1 can be altered along the bars 8 for accommodation to `any length of panel desired for the wrapping of a package. It is to be understood that the wrapper W may be printed in a long sheet adapted to be cut up into separate panels at some point to the right of the structure shown in Fig. 2 prior yto the actual wrapping operation.A Thus, one of these panels is shown in Fig. 14 having a central oval design D, t-he length of the panel being caused to ext-end in the direction of arrow a, and the width transverse of Fig. 14. It will further be noted that both the slit and the tongue are cut between the side edges 63 of thepanel.Y Y

Fig. 23 shows a length of wrapper W with oval designs- The tape T Afrom the supply TS passes under and over rolls on the carriage as suggested in Fig. 6 and is ultimately led over a rotatable pressure member 87 over which is located a rotatable clamping roll 88 normally held in down position by a spring 89. The yroll moves pivotally about an .axis 90 and can be raised and lowered by means to be described.A The tape passes under the roll 88 and is pressed by it against a roughened surface 91 ofthe pressure member 87 so that whenever the car- D. The dot and dash lines DD define the panels P later to'be cut yfrom the wrapper web and the sets of close parallel transverse lines deiine zones of. operation Z. The tongue and slit cutting valready described occur in these zones and the next operation to be described, that is', application of the tape, will also be performed at a zone. When an operation has been performed on a zone at station S1 the wrapper is moved to locate the zone at station S2.

Tear tape applying mechanism lThe mechanism for applying the tear tape is at the second station generally indicated at S2 and includes a means for drawing off a tear tape AT from the supply TS, means for gripping the advancing end of the tape at the end of its transverse travel with respect to the wrapper, a heater which then comes into position to apply the tape to the wrapper, at least one of which, preferably the tape, -i`s thermoplastic, cutting mechanism for the tape operative 4after the heater has returned to its starting point, and then advancing mechanism to move the free end of the tape still connected to the tape supply a slight ldistance to enable it to be gripped on the next operation. V'l'he various parts just described constitute fa unit mounted on the carriage which is reciprocated by an actuator, and by one reciprocation for each cycle of the machine. This part of the mechanism r,is shown more particularly in Figs.'1, 2, 6, 7 and 8.

. Secured to side members of the machine frame is a guide bar 70 :along which a carriage 71 is adapted to slide. A second stationary bar 72 above the bar 70 has sliding relation with the upper part of the carriage, this lsliding relation being provided by a slot 73 in the carriage into which the bar 72 lits. Acap 74 held to the carriage in any approved manner contines the bar 7,2 to the slot. The bar 70 has a sliding fit with a bearing 75 into the lower part of part of carriage 71 as indicated in Fig.- 8 sothat the carriage can be moved back and forth along the larger bar 70 and be held in upright posi-l tion bythe bar 72.

A shaft 76, see Fig. 9, which rotates once for each cycle or" the machine has secured thereto a crank 77 attached to a flink 78 the lower end of which is pivoted at 79 to an arm S0 which rocks around a stationary stud 81. Pivoted on stud 81 is :an lactuator lever 82 having a slot 83 therein to receive an adjustable screw 84 which is fastened to the arm 80. The screw can be secured at any desired position alongthe slot 83 and the throw of the crank thus adjusted to move the-arm through varying Iangular displacements so that both the extent of=V motion land also the locus'of `reciprocaticm of the'lever 82 may be varied if desired.

Pivoted to the upper endv of lever 82 is a horizontal actuator 85 which extends to the left from the position shown in Fig. 9 and is pivotally connected to -a stud 86 secured to and projecting `laterally from the carriage 71. As shaft 76 rotates therefore the actuator will move the carriage` along the bar 70 rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction so that for each cycle of the machine the carriage and the partsV carried by it to be described will move first on an outward tape drawing-v o? operation and then in the reverse direction for atape applying operation.

riage moves to the left Ifrom the position shown in Fig.Y 6 the tape will be unwound Vfrom the supply TS and will be drawn'otf beneath the wrapper. Member 87 and roll 88 are located-near the leading end 97 of the tear tape.

'The wrapper travels, in a` fixed path and at this second. station S2 passes under and -is in contact with asupport 92 held in fixed position by connection with the sides of the frame F and as shown herein is spacedrfrom station S1 va distance equal to the length of a panel so that the zone in which the tongue and slit were previously cut yat station S1 will be `at rest under support 92 during the rest period in the next succeeding cycle. rllhis is not a necessary order of operating on the wrapper, since station S2 can be spaced along the wrapper from stationV down position shown in Fig. 6 to providea spaceV intoV which the advancing end of the tear tape can enter.

In the operation of that part ofthe tape applying mechanism thus tar described the. carriage would be moved from right to Ileft while the gripper 96 isropen and theV leading end 97 of the tear .tape will move along a path closely Aadjacent to but 4spaced from the under side of the wrapper. When the carriage reaches the left end of its stroke the end97 will-enter the space above gripper96, see Fig. 15, and-the-gripperzwill then be moved up to `holdtheleadting end of the tape, see Fig. 16, against the. wrapper within its edges to prevent the tape from moving to the right when the carriage starts back in the Ireverse direction. At this same time Vclamp roll 88, which has been held down against the pressure member 87 during left-handmovement of the carriage, is

lifted, see Fig. 16, so that upon return movement of the carri-age the tear tape can slide between the pressure member 87 and the clamp roll 88.

The mechanism for operating the gripper l96 and the clamp roll 88 is showngmore particularly in Figs. 1 and l1. The shaft 55 already described as rotating once for each cycle of the machine has secured thereto cams 100 and 101. Cam 100 controlsra lever l102 normallyr -held against the cam *byA spring 103 and having the upper ann thereof pivoted at 104 to the right-handviend ofl a; lifter bar 105 extending transversely of the machine parallel to the bars 70 and 72. y Lever 102'swings around a fixedV axis 106 and an `arm' 107 pivoted to the leftahand end of the lifter bar 105 as viewed inFig. .l lmoves Yabout a second airis 108.V The upper armfof lever 102 andarm 107 arel of the same length and angular position so that whenever lever 102 rocks the bar 105 willrbe eitherf raised or lowered with a'parallel motion depending upon the direction of rock of lever 102 under influence of its cam'100.

Normally Iresting on the top of lifter vbar 105 is a roll 1110 carried byV a short arm. 111 secured to a short shaft 112 journaled in the upright 95. When the bar 105 rises the roll y110 causes counterclockwise rocking of the gripper 96 as viewed in Fig. 6 to grip the tape.

The gripper 96 is free on shaft 112 and derives its motion from a spring 99 `having one end attached to a partrof shaft 1112 and the other end to a part of the gripper 96. In this manner excess motion of shaft 1.12 will be 7 taken up by the spring when the gripper is in its up or clamping position.

In a, similar manner a roll 115' on short arm 11'6 secured' to short shaft 90 movable about a fixed axis. will be lifted as bar 105.` rises to cause the roll 88 to move upwardly away from the pressure member 87. The operation of gripping the free end of the tape by gripper 96' and release of the clamping action on it by roll 88 is effected by that part of Fig. 114 already described. The cam 100 permits the spring 103 to lift the bar 105 at about the time. that the actuator 85 completes the end of its outward stroke,r or left-hand stroke as viewed in Fig, 6. The gripper 96,` however,y should not move upwardly toward the wrapper until after the carriage has come substantially to rest in order to prevent any bucklingI of the wrapper which might otherwise result if the gripper operated too soon. It will also be understood that the gripper 96 must have operated before the c-arriage has had anysubstantial reverse motion` to the right, otherwise the tape will be moved away from the gripper.

. The means for applying the drawn-olf tape to the wrapper includes a heater element H and thermostat TH mounted on a carriage 71. The wrapper W is preferably made of a thermoplastic material such as cellophane `and the tape T may be made of a double thickness of thermoplastic cellophane preferably of a distinctive color so that merely by moving a heater close to or in actual engagement with the tape the latter can be made tacky so that it will adhere to the wrapper when pressed against the latter. The heater performs both of these functions, that is, it makes the tape tacky and also presses the tape against the wrapper in a progressive manner on the under side of the support 92.

Because of the lfact that the tape passes over the pressure element S7 which is mounted on the carriage 71 it is desirable that the heater be held to the carriage by a supporting means having a low conductivity of heat, such as aV thermosetting plastic or some one or another of the hard laminated products which are poo-r condoctors to heat. With this thought in `mind the heater is supported by two arms 120` made of this material which are secured to a shaft 12,1 journaled in the carriage. The pressure member 87 is fastened to this shaft 121 and thus partakes of any angular motion of the arms 120 and heater around the axis of shaft 121.

The heater as shown more particularly in Fig. 21 has an outside casing 123, enclosing a hollow metallic body 124 within which is located an electric heating element 125 supplied with electric current through wires 126. The thermostat regulates the temperature of the heating unit. The casing has vertical slots 127 to receive studs 128 carried by the hollow metallic body 124. The lower part of body 124 as, shown in Fig. 2l has a hollow screw 130 tapped thereinto receiving the upward thrust of a.

compression sprinn 131l which rests on a second hollow screw 132 tappedinto `a cross head 133 forming the bottom of the heating unit. The spring therefore holds the body-124 in high position with respect to the casing with the studs 128 at the upper ends of the slots 127. The reason for using this type of mounting -for the body 124 is to permit it to have a slight downward motion with respect to the casing if the latter should be lifted too high by structure nowto be described. The heater is located on thatside of the tape opposite to the side that the wrapper is located with respect to the tape.

Returning to Fig. ll, cam 101 acts on a lever 146 swingable about the `airis 106 and having an upper arm 141-connected to a second lifter bar 142. A link 143 extending to the left from the lower arm 144 of lever 140 is connected to the lower arm 145 of a lever 146 rockable on the pivot 108. The upper arm 147 of lever 146 is pivotally connected to the left-hand end of the second lifterV bar 142. The corresponding arms `at the ends ofthe bar 14;'. and link- 143 are the same length and angular disposition so that bar 142 rises and falls with a parallel motion the same as does lifter' bar 105".`

The lifter bar 142 is provided with an elongated slot 150 which receives a roll 151 on an arm 152 secured to the shaft 1721. Rising and falling of the second lifter bar 142 therefore determines the angular position of the pressure member S7 and heater.

Cam 101 is set in such position on shaft 55 that when the actuator 85 has completed the left-hand motion of the carriage it will lift the bar 142, thereby causing clockwise turning of the shaft 121v as viewed in Fig. 6' to move the heater Hj `from the position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 17. The top of the. metallic body 124 4is provided with a small cap 155 which can be held frictionally to the upper end' of body 124', and the top and sides of this cap are preferably provided with a thin coating oftetrauorethylene. This material is` found to be of particular advantage since it does not tend to adhere to the tear tape although it will transmit heat from the heating unit to the tape.

At the beginning of the reverse stroke of the carriage the heater unit will be moved up against the tape, now held by gripper 96,. yand as the carriage moves to the right the cap will bear against the tape to heat it and progressively press it against the under side of the wrapper to apply the tape thereto within the edges of the wrapper and in alignment with and between tongue G and slit 62. The top of the cap as shown in Fig. 2l can be dished slightly `at 157 to receive the tape should it be desired to have actual contact between the cap and the wrapper. This may not be an essential relation in forms of the, invention. The tape is applied to the wrapper at station S2 yand is spaced from the edges of the wrapper and between the tongue G and slit 62 which were previously 'formed at station S1.

When the carriage reaches its starting point, or the right-hand end of its return stroke as viewed in Fig. 6, it will be necessary first to cut the part of the tape nowv adherent to the wrapper from the supply TS and then advance that part of the tape still connected to the supply TS a slight amount so that it can enter a space above the gripper 96 on the next operation. The cutter is shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 20 and cornprises a small lever 160 pivoted at 161 to the carriage 71 having a jaw 162 pivoted to it at 163.

A cutter blade 164 is secured to the jaw 162 and asecond cutter blade 165 fixed to an'd extending laterally from the carriage, see Figs. 6 and 7, is spaced slightly above a guide support 166 also on the carriage to define a passageway 167 for the tear tape. The tape is able to move freely through this passage on return motion of the carriage and at or near the end of the return stroke. of the carriage a solenoid 170 mounted on the bottom of the carriage, see Fig. 6, will be energized to lower its core 171 so that a link 172 connected thereto and to` lever 16d will rock the lever around the axis 161, thereby lifting the blade 164-` from its normal low position into` cutting relation with the upper blade 164 to cut the tape after the latter has been attached to the wrapper and clamp roll 3S is. in tape clamping position. A small compression spring 173 between the lever 160 and the jaw 162 permits slight angular movement of the jaw and blade 16a should this be necessary.

The upper end 174 of blade 164 will always project above the cutting edge of blade 165 to preserve proper registry of the blades, and as blade 164 rises its inclined cutting edge 175 will move along blade 165 to cut the tape T, see Fig. 20. It will be understood that after the closure 56 passes. the switch 57 to permit the latter to open with resultant deenergization of solenoid 170 spring 161 will lift the core and will act through the link 172` to lower tne cutter blade 164 and this action will occur just before the heater drops and the pressure member under cont-rol of the heater acts to advance the free end- 97 of the tape a short distance.

Preferably during't-his cutting operation just described the heater will still be up in its high position, see Fig. 18. The closer 56 on shaft 55 is set to close the switch 57 at this time and the switch energzes the solenoid 170 as well as causing operation of the cutter blades 30 and 36 as already described. It will be understood that thiscutting operation of the tape will occur xnear the estates end of a period ofrest of a cycle and it is to enable the single switch 157 tol takecare of the solenoid 170 as well -asfsolenoid 41 that the `operation of the parts at station S1 isdelayed until near the end of a rest period. In order to return the parts`V to their normal starting position it is necessary` to lower the heater and also advance the tape and thisis elected by the cam 101 which now acts on lever 140to permit the second lifter bar 142 to descend vunder its own weight and that of the heater and permit the latter to swing around the axis of shaft 1.21 so that the heater can drop back to its nonsealing, or nonapplying, position. 'At this time clamp roll' 88 will have returned to engagement with the tape to pressit against the pressure member 87 and as theheater dropsto linactive position, the pressure member turns,

angularly -a slight distance to project the tapes yfree end 97 beyond the cutter blade 164 as shown in Fig. 6 and in readiness vfor engagement by the gripper 96, see Fig. 19.

Heater H is so mounted on the drawing olf and applying unit that it can move relative to the unitand the Wrapper after the unit draws olf and also after the latter applies,

.the tape to thevwrapper.

' VThe tape T is guided Vby Irolls 180 and 181 rotatable on 7`1. One of these rolls, 181 as shown herein, is provided' with a small brake 183which falls against the roll to eration. Any slackness in the tape will be taken up by a roll weight 186 movable freely in the slot 187v of an inc-lined bar 188, see Fig. 1 0.

' The previously mentioned guide roll 10 is mounted so that it can be raised and lowered by means of stationary racks 190 one of which is shown in Fig. 2. .Meshing with` each rack is a gear 191 which is iixed with lrespect to the roll 10 andwhen the roll and the gears are turned they will either move upwardly' or downwardly depending upon the direction of turning. A clamp 192 is provided for holding the roll 10 in any adjustable position.

' The reason for desiring tofchange theY position of roll 10 is 'to adapt the machine -for wrapper webs having panels of` different lengths. rest and that anew web has just been threaded through the various devices already described and "aroundl the rolls shown at the right-hand part of Fig. 2, the feed rolll will be at rest to pinch the wrapper and hold it againstlengthwise motion. The applying station-S2 is stationary and the roll 10 will be adjusted until one of the -zones Z is in register with this station. Station S1 can then be moved as already described so that it will register with the next following zone Z. With the positions of the roll 10 and the station S1 thus determined the feed roll can then be turned under power with assurancethat -t-he zones will move through the machine' so that each zone ill register lirst with station S1 yand thenv with station S2.

The tear tape is applied to the underside of thewrapper` as will 'be apparent from the previous description and the panels then move one Aby one to a wrapping part or head of the machine (not shown herein) wherein the pack-age.

Assuming that the machineis at of the package vand downthe sides, Figs l andl, tto the bottom near the supporting cardboard CB.'V When the user wishes toopen thepackage he grasps the tongueV and the free end ofthe tape alignedl with it and bya motion of the hand across 4the package removes the tape. From Figs. 12. and 13 it will be apparent that when the tape is removed the ends of the package are still intact, but there is a narrow crosswise opening through which the lingers can be inserted for removing 4the contents of the package, such as paper napkins or handkerchiefs, one at a time without disturbing the remainder of the articles.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets 'forth a machine which operates on a wrapper iirstto l out a crosswise tongue and then to apply to the wrapper .30' the actuator 85 and a roll 182 rotatable on the carriage-11 to be wrapped is pushed up against the bottomof the y panel 'and the latter is then forced up through guides which fold the sides and ends of the panel around andV thenunder .the package. The package may, for example, be stacked paper `tissues or handkerchiefs resting on a.

stiil"` cardboard. By this operation the tape isfthen on the inside of the package and may extend across the'top transverse of the direction of movement of the wrappe 'at one of said stations having an operation-to `5 a tape -in register with the tongue. The mechanism atV station S1 includes a pair of means which includes cutters 30 and 36, the cutter 30 preferably having teeth on its undercutting edge, the teeth first penetrating the wrapper; to prevent deformation of it, after which the remainder of the cutter can cut the tongue. The mechanism at. station S2 iirst draws off a length of tear tape under the wrapper when the carriage 71 moves in one direction and then progressively moves and attaches the tape to the wrapper by application of heat as the carriage moves in the opposite direction and returns to its starting position. The invention also sets forth an improved tear tape applying unit including the Vcarriage 71 and the various parts which are mounted onor move with it. When the heater drops from its raised operative position to its low positionv the pressurefmember 87 cooperating with the clamp roll 88 advances the free end 97 of the tape a short distanceto enable it to move under the gripper 96 on the next operation ofthe machine. Each cycle ofVV operation of the machine includes a feed stroke and a rest period yand the operation occurring at stationSl and the tape applying opera-tion at S2 occurduring rest periods while the wrapper is stationary. The drawing-'off operationrorrthe tape can occur during a -feed strokeof the wrapper., The tape and preferably the wnapper, 'are` made of -thermoplastic material whichy become tacky when subjected -to sulicient heat by the heating element and Ythis element also presses the tape against the Wrapper on the return stroke of the carriage'. The invention also package and panel. 'Ihe verticallyV adjustable roll 10 permits adaptation of lthe machine toY sets forth an improved panels of different lengths.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the 'I nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

l. '-InA .a tear Ytape applying mechanism for a Wrapping machine in which a exible sheet wrapper moves past two stations Asuccessively after which the sheet wrapper is cut to form individual wrappers, a'pair of means remote other'mova-ble in aldirectiong from and oppositeeach and located cut the wrapper. to simultaneously form a slit parallel ,to

the' direction in; which the wrapper moves anda tonguer crosswise of said'direction of movemenn'one4 end of said'V r.

tongue being free and-the other end thereof. being at# ,f tached to the wrapper, yboth said' tongue and said fslit';

being remotefrom eachother land being formed sol as t f v.

=be within theedges of' said Asheet wrapper and .WithintheI edges of said ,individual wrappers rwhen the latter` aref' formed, means at the other station having an operation -to apply to the wrapper atear tape within the edges of j the wnapper and' aligned with said tongue and said flslitf: operations and means to feedthewrapper between said from one of said vstations to theother station.

2. In a tear tape applying mechanism for a wrapping I i machine in which a wrapper has step'by step advancef movements alternatingwith periods of rest, cutter mecha nism moving toward the wrapper during a period of rest thereof including a cutter effective to cutthe wrapper to'v form a tongue extending transverse of said advance-3 movements, one end of the tongue being ,freerand the Y other end thereof being attached to the wrapper, said cutter having a cutting edge lying in a plane above said Wrapper and between the edges thereof and' means being provided to. change the plane of the cutting edgev with respectV to the wrapper to vary the length ofthe tongue.

3. In. a tear tape applying mechanism for a wrapping machine in which a wrapper has step. by step advance movements alternating with periods of rest, cutter mechanism. moving toward the wrapper during a period of; rest thereof including a cutter effective to cut the wrapper to form a tongueV extending, transverse of' said advance movements, one end of the tongue being free and the other end thereof being attached to the wrapper, said cutter being iixedly mounted' on a pivot on the cutter mechanism for angular adjustment around' the axis of said pivot perpendicular'to the direction ofY motion of the cutter mechanism and. parallel to the direction of advance movements ofthe wrapper, said angular adjustment when made acts to change the plane of the cutting edge of the cutter with respect to the wrapper to vary the length of the tongue.

4. The mechanism set forth in. claim l' whereinf the wrapper has step by step advance movementsl alternating with periods of' rest and said pair of means. has their operations at said' one of said stations duringV periods of rest o f'the wrapper while said means atsaid other StationV operates to apply saidtapel to a wrapper within its edges and between said. tongue and' slit whichwere previously formed' at` said one of said stations.

5.' The mechanismr set` forthinclaimd wherein. each. advance movement. and corresponding period of. rest.

constitute, a cycle of operation o ffthe. mechanism and wherein both of said operations` occur each. cycle. at.df ferent zones ofthe wrapper and said pair. of'means. op-

crates at one of said zones duringone cycle and said.

meansV at said other station operates atthe same zone during a later cycle.

6'.A In a tear tapev applying mechanism forv a. wrapping machine in which a flexible sheet wrapper provided with a tongue anda slit betweenthe edges thereofmoves past an applying station, the machine. having. a supply` of tear tape havinga leading. end atone sideof the wrapper-. and inftransverse alignment with,4 said tongue and. slit. with respect to the wrapper, a, drawing off andapplying unit reciprocating at, said station transversely of. the wrapper having a first movement in one directionto move said leadingendfin said. onetdirection todi-aw. tape from. the supplyrand having a second. movement in the reverse direction during which the unit is effective to attach the tapeto` the wrapper between and in alignment with said tongue and slit, and means effective between saidv first and second movements to grip theA leading end of the tape, and prevent thelatter fromhaving a movementvin said reverse direction, said tear tapebeingprogressively moved toward the. wrapper and attached thereto during said isecond movement andfwhilev the wrapper'is stationary.

7. 'Ihe mechanismsetforth in claim 6 wherein the wrapper and tape are both made of a thermoplastic material and the unit` includes. a heating unit which isl out ofI contact with the-tape during; the first of said movements but is incontact with the tape during the second of said movements to progressivelyL effect attachmentof the tape to the wrapperduringthe secondofsaid movements.

8. The mechanism set forth in` claim 6. wherein the*` machinef includes-a cam and the unit-includesa heater movable thereon and control connections betweeni the cam and heater cause. the latter to be-outof contact-with the tape duringwsaid first. movement and. to be in contact'with the tape and saidwrapper;andaelectivezto progressively press the-lattenagainst the wrapper-during-.said Secondrmovernent:

9. The-mechanism setfforth in claim 81 whereinsaid control' connections includean elongated* member extending-transverselyof=the-wrapper and moved by the 12 cam and. a roll operatively connected to the heater is effective by its engagement` with the member to movethe. heater relatively to the unit and the wrapper.

1.0. In a machine having a supply of thermoplastic tear tape and a wrapper movable across and in contact with a stationary support, a stationary guide bar mounted beneath the wrapper in a direction transverse of the direction the wrapper moves, actuating means, a` carriage slidable on the guide bar and operatively connected to the actuating means4 moved by the latter along the guide.

first in one direction and then in the opposite direction under and with respect to. the wrapper,. clamp means on the carriage and near the leading end of the tape effective to draw oil tape from said supply when the carriage moves in said one direction, a heater mounted movably on the carriage spaced from the wrapper when the carriage moves in said one direction, said heater beingon.

that side of the tape opposite to the side that the wrapper is. located'. with respect to the tape, means moving. said clamping means to unclamping position to release the tear. tape, a gripper located. withinthe. edges of the wrapper to hold the leading end of the tear. tape against the wrapper withintheedges. thereof,. and means holding the heater against the tape and the Wrapper to make them both tacky and to press the tape against thewrapper` in a` progressive manner. when.` the carriage. moves in said opposite direction.

11. In a drawing-oli'` and applying unit for a` wrapping. machine having a guide under a li'exible sheet wrapper and a supply ofteartape havinga leading `end,..a carriage forming. part of said. unit and slidable along the guide below the Wrapper, a rotatable pressure member on thecarriage, a rotatable clamp on the carriage movable to tape clamping and releasing positions. with respect to` the pressure member as.. said. carriage slides along said guide, anda cutter on the carriage to sever the tape `from said supply after the tape .has been `applied to the wrapperV and when the clamp is in clamping position with respect to the pressure member.

12. The unit set forth in claim 1l.wherein the carriage has mounted thereon a solenoid. which when energized causes. operation of the-cutter to sever the tapeafter the latter has. beenattached to the wrapper and said clamp is4 in tape clamping-position.

13. The unit set forth in claim` 1l whereinthe pressure member is. connected to andmoves with a heater supported by the carriage and movable to applying position to heat the-tape. and movable also tota' nonapplying position, the heater when moving tononapplying position whenthe. clamp is in clampingpositioncausing the pressure memberv to rotate to advance the leading end ofthe tape for a short. distance.

14. The unit set forth in claimll wherein the pressure member rotates under control of the heater and is op` eratively connected thereto by means made of. a thermosetting plastic material to Areduce the transfer of heat from the heater. to the pressure member.

15. In a tear tape applyingmechanism for awrapping machine in whicha flexible. sheet wrapper moves4 along a fixed path past an applying station, the machine having a supply of tear tapeatone side ofthe wrapper, a drawing off. and applying unit reciprocating at said station transversely of thewrapper having a first movement in one direction to draw tape from the supply and. having a- 1'65 In a wrapping machine having an intermittent feed.

means for a wrapper sheet capable when not feeding the wrapper to hold' a part ofthe latter in Xedposition, means constituting atear tape applying station for applying tape to longitudinally spaced zones on the wrapper,

13 and an adjustably mounted guide roll for the wrapper between said feed means and station movable in a direction to cause registry of a zone of the wrapper with said station when the feed means is holding said part of the wrapper xed to adapt the machine for wrapper webs having panels of diierent lengths.

17. The machine set forth in claim 16 wherein means are provided constituting a tongue cutting station mounted on the machine for movement toward and from the applying station to the end that after a zone has been moved into registry with the applying zone by movement of the adjustable guide roll the means of the tongue cutter station can be moved to cause the latter station to register with a different zone of the wrapper while the feed means holds said part of the wrapper fixed, the adjustment of the guide roll and the means of the tongue cutter station being eiective to assure that each zone 14 will register first with the tongue cutter station and then With the applying station irrespective of the chosen length of panel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,894,726 Beckman 1an. 17, 1933 2,683,401 Smith July 13, 1954 2,694,964 Smith NOV. 23, 1954 2,703,645 Scrimshaw Mar. 8, 1955 2,739,512 COnti Mar. 27, 1956 2,757,584 Clements Allg. 7, 1956 2,800,224 Walter July 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,129 Great Britain 'Jan. 4, 1937 

